Objective To investigate brachial artery endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with H-type hypertension.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with newly-diagnosed mild to moderate hypertension were enrolled in the study,including 58 cases with normal homocysteine (HCY) level (＜ 10 μmnol/L,non H-type group) and 62 cases with high HCY (≥10 μ moL/L,H-type group).Systolic pressure,diastolic pressure,blood lipid (TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C),fasting plasma glucose and two hours postprandial plasma glucose were measured in all patients.Brachial artery endothelial function and carotid IMT were determined with ultrasonography and compare between two groups.The factors related to brachial artery endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) and carotid IMT were analyzed with multiple linear stepwise regression.Results Compared with non H-type group,the brachial artery EDD was reduced [(6.85 ± 0.77) ％ vs.(5.98 ± 0.85) ％,t =2.552,P =0.041] and carotid IMT was increased [(0.90±0.13)mm vs.(1.01 ±0.17)mm,t =2.426,P=0.048] in H-type group.The multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that EDD was negatively correlated to systolic pressure,diastolic pressure,fasting plasma glucose,two hours postprandial plasma glucose and HCY (r =-0.685,-0.654,-0.571,-0.627,-0.529,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).IMT was positively related to systolic pressure,diastolic pressure,TC,TG,LDL-C and HCY (r =0.596,0.584,0.652,0.665,0.673,0.541,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Patients with H-type hypertension are at a higher risk to arteriosclerosis than those with non H-type hypertension,which may be related to high HCY levels.

A 20-year-old male patient presented with myalgia of upper limbs and myasthenia of extremities for more than 1 month. Physical examination showed diffuse erythema on the cheeks, upper eyelids, upper chest, neck and dorsa of the hands. The myodynamia of the proximal and distal muscles of upper and lower extremities was grade Ⅳ, Ⅴ, Ⅲ and Ⅴ respectively. Laboratory examinations revealed that the serum levels of creatine kinase, CK-MB and lactate dehydrogenase were 2103 U/L, 83 U/L and 489 U/L respectively, which were all above the normal range. Electromyogram revealed myopathic abnormality and normal nerve conduction velocity. Histopathology of gastrocnemius muscle showed hypertrophy and swelling of muscle fibers, disappearance or fuzziness of transverse striation, and intermuscular lymphoid cell infiltration. A biopsy of the skin lesion from the upper chest showed liquefaction degeneration of and colloid bodies in basal cell layer, perivascular lymphoid cell infiltration in the dermis. A diagnosis of dermatomyositis was established based on the clinical and laboratory findings. After management with intravenous prednisolone 80 mg once daily and symptomatic treatment for 4 weeks, the myodynamia of upper limbs was improved, serum levels of creatine kinase,CK-MB and lactate dehydrogenase reached the normal ranges. However, the myodynamia of lower limbs progressively deteriorated with the emergence of paresthesia. Enhanced MRI scan showed a tumor in the vertebral canal at the level of thoracic vertebra 11 to 12. A spherical encapsulated tumor measuring 3 cm in diameter was surgically removed. The tumor was diagnosed as paraganglioma in vertebral canal according to pathological and immunohistochemical findings. The patient was finally diagnosed with paraganglioma in vertebral canal superimposed on dermatomyositis.